Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
This week's winner is Mary Jane Dodd! Congratulations, Mary Jane! You've won Heather's oak leaf beads. Send an email to Heather and she'll send your prize right over to you!
Welcome to the Studio of Cindy Gimbrone!
Good morning, ABS-ers! The first question you're probably asking is: Where have I been?
Lots has transpired dear readers but the main culprit keeping me from you is a full time sign language interpreting job. Working my hands and arms all day keeps me from working my hands and arms all night and weekend making beads.
Something had to give. I've re-focused my energy into perfecting new beadmaking techniques and incorporating those beads into projects and articles.
You've seen me branch out into polymer clay and metal. For the past few months I've been experimenting and perfecting molded fused rings. I've used frit mixes, single color frit, iridescent frit and dichroic frit. Here's a sampling of what's come out of the kiln.
24 comments:
I complain all the time about not having enough time. I set aside Sundays for beading and writing a blog post. It means my production is slow, but I still get to be creative. I might be able to find more time to bead if I could give up my reading habits, but that is just not an option.
Oh heck, I work part time and don't even have time! I can't wait to get back to the torch, hopefully next week, as my part-time job exploded into a full-time job last week (temporarily, I hope!). I try to tell myself there's all the time in the world, and things will fall naturally together, and they do, but it's still difficult not to compare myself with what everyone else is doing.
It seems as soon as I find time to blog, read, sew, bead, or even update facebook, someone always interrupts me. Like right now, my 11 year old who has cerebral palsy is looking at me and making noises letting me know he is hungry. Perhaps a studio that is not at home is the answer...but darn it I know that phone is gonna ring :)
I try to find time to be creative every day, if even for 5 mins. It's how I cope with all the other things life throws at me :).
I work full time--there's no way I could also make jewelry full time. I am OK with keeping it as a part time hobby, although I admit, I am not very prolific.
Oooh, those rings are gorgeous! <3
My biggest problem is that I've got *two* time-consuming hobbies - beading/polymer clay and painting... It's always one or the other for a time, until I get frustrated with it and turn back to the other again. Right now I got back to beading and finished up some designs that had been lying half-done for almost a year while I practised painting... And I really only got back to it because my computer is broken and I can't paint (digitally)
No I cannot do both either and feel very out of balance, but running our restaurant takes so much of my time and energy and I am unable to switch gears in my brain from the demands of that business to being creative that quickly. In other words, i can't put in a whole day there and then come home and be able to make stuff, doesn't work. I envy those who can pull it off.
I'm a teacher, and in the summer I had lots of time to bead --not so much now, and I miss it! I try to spend some time each weekend either working with polymer clay, or putting a piece of jewelry together.
I try to balance but it doesn't always work. I work weekends, and when school is in session it means I get 2 days off during the week to bead.
i work full-time also, so i feel your pain on finding time for creative pursuits. in addition, i have type 1 diabetes & fibromyalgia, so finding the energy to do anything is even more difficult. i try, sometimes i succeed, more often i don't. it gets frustrating sometimes, but c'est la vie....
April Gray, owlape@aol.com
I probably have more free time than some to do my glass/craft etc , however sometimes I think you can actually be more productive if you have less time..there is then a demand to use that time very well.. and not procrastinate!! Sometimes I actually achieve more when I am busier.. go figure!
jenni
I work in a school so my free time to create is limited now. I spend Saturdays enameling and doing custom orders but I have no time to make finished jewelry pieces. I plan on having a home party in November and I'm already getting stressed about it! Nope, no balance here. :)
I usually work about an hour in the evening - either right when I get home from work or after dinner. For the most part I bead weave. Just an hour is very relaxing so I get a little crazy if I don't have my zen moment each day.
Production is a whole other story. The deadline will force me to carve out weekend time and put aside other projects (like cooking and cleaning). I work pretty hard to keep this a hobby and not a job, but I do need a little income to pay for my supplies. I'm trying to move away from doing straight commission/custom work to just selling pieces I have already made in order to keep it fun.
My full time work is making beads so for me the balance I need to find is between making more of the same and creating new colors / designs. Some times "more of the same" is just what I need - making beads with a routine rhythm that allows space for my mind to wander around. Other times I need to try out new designs and colors, which requires more focus, note taking and concentrated thought. Both of these processes are ones I enjoy, so I guess right now I'm balancing through choice, but I'm happy with the choices I have to make.
Oh Cindy I LOVE the Fused glass. I don't know with frit means,but I know like these.
I'm balancing everything and I think I'm losing.
Since I am self-employed, I have a bit more flexibility than most working full time. If I have an idea/creative moment, I make jewelry (as long as I don't have court). If I am not feeling creative, I can always find something legal to work on.
I'm retired now, but when I was working I didn't always have the energy, even when I did have time. Sometimes I just wanted to zone out. Other times the creative impulse would restore me.
We have been building a house for my parents on our property. So, for the last 7 months, I have had very little time to be creative. As much as I miss it, it sure is good to have my momma home!
My claying obsession is one of my jobs. The other is computer related. Both are freelance so I have some flexibility and the year has cycles during which I focus more on one than the other.
What I find I have issues with is making room for the rest since I really, really enjoy my work.
I have been working on my master's thesis, so the bead weaving has gone to the side. Sometimes I set aside a few hours to turn on the tv and bead, but it is rare.
I very seldom have the time I want to play with my glass and beads. I'm trying to work on a new schedule that would give me at least part of a day each week to play and post my things for sale, but so far it's not working too well. Will have to keep trying.
Hi Cindy your rings are so pretty! I'm so glad you posted what you have been up to :) I can understand why, you must be so exhausted when you get home! I am out of work because of my back. I have Degenerative Disc Dz. and still trying to find something that helps with the pain besides pills. My bead weaving & cross stitching are nice meditative work for me. I wish there was something you could do to help get your Mojo back on the weekends..
I work full time, so my beading and jewelry making is my hobby. I use my jewelry making time as a stress-buster. If I'm not feeling especially creative some nights, I can always enamel beads, and that, too, is very relaxing. But sometimes, I give myself a break - some days I'm just too tired to bead! It's ok to admit we can't always do it all, all the time!!
Jobs are scarce right now in Greece so there is no option for full time job really...
Crafting is still a hobby for me but I am thinking seriously of turning it into an actual occupation...
DESPINA
deb_oro@yahoo.gr
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